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United States Patent | 6,209,185 |
Scott | April 3, 2001 |
A method of constructing an earth-boring bit provides a face seal assembly with a diamond layer having a face with recesses for enhanced lubrication. The earth-boring bit has a bit body, at least one cantilevered bearing shaft, including a base and a cylindrical journal bearing surface extending inwardly and downwardly from the bit body, and at least one cutter mounted for rotation on the cylindrical journal bearing surface of the bearing shaft. The seal assembly is disposed between the cylindrical journal bearing surface and the cutter proximally to the base of the cantilevered bearing shaft. The seal assembly includes at least one rigid seal ring having a seal face in contact with a second seal face. At least one of the seal faces is at least partially formed of a super-hard material having wear-resistance greater than, and a coefficient of sliding friction less than, that of the rigid seal ring material. The super-hard layer is deposited on a substrate that has a face finished with a shape that is the inverse of the desired contour on the seal face. The super-hard layer is then separated from the substrate, resulting in a face with the desired contour. The diamond layer is then attached to the rigid seal ring.
Inventors: | Scott; Danny E. (Montgomery, TX) |
Assignee: | Baker Hughes Incorporated (Houston, TX) |
Appl. No.: | 332799 |
Filed: | June 14, 1999 |
Current U.S. Class: | 29/458; 29/434; 29/527.3; 277/404; 427/248.1 |
Intern'l Class: | B23P 025/00 |
Field of Search: | 29/458,424,527.1,434 277/404,380,382 156/60,330 427/528,596,525,530,562,577,582,561,249,250,248.1 228/122.1,177 |
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Prior Art Time Temp Coefficient Friction (Min) (.degree. C.) of Friction Force (lbf) 0 25.0 0 0 10 27.0 .140 0.7 20 28.0 .140 1.4 30 29.7 .133 2.0 40 31.0 .120 2.4 50 32.6 .116 2.9 60 34.0 .110 3.3
Present Invention Time Temp Coefficient Friction (Min) .degree. (C.) of Friction Force (lbf) 0 24.5 0 0 10 25.5 .05 .25 20 26.0 .045 .45 30 27.0 .037 .55 40 27.6 .033 .65 50 28.0 .030 .85 60 29.0 .028 .85